When 'best before' dates are removed from packaging, food waste drops significantly.
Research from Wageningen University demonstrates that eliminating these dates on long-life products reduces waste by 12%. Replacing them with 'long shelf life' yields even better results, cutting waste by 31%.
This study, commissioned by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, supports broader EU efforts to tackle food waste. The Netherlands is advocating to expand the list of products exempt from mandatory expiration dates.
The Key Difference Between 'Best Before' (THT) and 'Use By' (TGT)
Confusion often surrounds these labels. 'Best before' (THT) indicates quality, not safety—products remain edible beyond this date. It's a lower quality threshold, not an upper safety limit. This misunderstanding leads many to discard perfectly safe food.
